Blocked milk duct

A blocked milk duct (sometimes also called plugged or clogged milk duct) is a blockage of one or more ducts carrying milk to the nipple for the purpose of breastfeeding an infant. The symptoms are a tender, localised lump in one breast, with redness in the skin over the lump. The cause of a blocked milk duct is the failure to remove milk from part of the breast. This may be due to infrequent breastfeeding, poor attachment, tight clothing or trauma to the breast. Sometimes the duct to one part of the breast is blocked by thickened milk. A blocked milk duct can be managed by improving the removal of milk and correcting the underlying cause.<ref name = ncbi1>

Management of breast conditions and other breastfeeding difficulties(link). {{{website}}}. National Center for Biotechnology Information US National Library of Medicine.

This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.</ref>

Treatment

The most effective treatment against blocked milk ducts is to empty the affected breasts by frequent breastfeeding or pumping.<ref>Roberts, Kathryn L.,

 Effects of Cabbage Leaf Extract on Breast Engorgement, 
 Journal of Human Lactation, 
 
 Vol. 14(Issue: 3),
 pp. 231–236,
 DOI: 10.1177/089033449801400312,
 
 
 
 Full text,</ref> Other forms of treatment include:

• A gentle massage of the affected breast<ref name=":0">Mangesi, Lindeka,

 Treatments for breast engorgement during lactation, 
 Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 
 
 
 
 DOI: 10.1002/14651858.CD006946.pub3,
 
 PMC: 4161489,
 
 Full text,</ref> Sometimes after gentle massage over the lump, a string of the thickened milk comes out through the nipple, followed by a stream of milk, and rapid relief of the blocked duct.<ref name="ncbi1" />

• Ensuring a correct positioning and latching of the baby<ref name=":0" />
• Wearing loose clothing items that do not bind the breasts<ref name=":1">

Tackling engorgement and mastitis: an all-in-one guide(link). www.meandqi.com.

Accessed 2019-03-26.

</ref>

• Applying warm compresses<ref name=":0" />
• Drinking a specialized herbal tea<ref name=":1" />

A blocked milk duct can result from a nipple bleb. Both of these can lead to mastitis.<ref>Marsha,

 Breastfeeding management for the clinician : using the evidence, 
  
 Sudbury, Mass:Jones and Bartlett Publishers, 
 2011, 
  
  
 ISBN 9780763766511,</ref>

References

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